First Known Use of gab

History and Etymology for gab

Verb

of uncertain origin

Note:
Perhaps continuing a divergent sense of Middle English gabben "to speak mockingly, scoff, tell lies" (borrowed from Anglo-French gaber "to mock, sneer at," ultimately from Old Norse gabba) if occurrences in Chaucer, perhaps meaning "to speak foolishly, talk nonsense," are the same verb. However, the scarcity of attestation between Chaucer and the 18th century, when gab appears in Scots, suggests that Modern English gab is a new onomatopoeic formation, akin to gabble.